16 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy is partnering with the Dubai Police to launch a new series of capacity-building programmes. The first training, taking place from 21 to 23 October in Dubai, focuses on Human Rights in Policing and marks an important milestone in the collaboration.

The three-day training aims to strengthen and expand existing human rights practices within the Force’s operations, ensuring that principles of dignity, fairness, and accountability are embedded in everyday policing. Through interactive sessions and case studies, participants will explore how a rights-based approach enhances professionalism, public trust, and effectiveness in maintaining security.

This initiative sets the foundation for a long-term collaboration between UNITAR and the Dubai Police, reinforcing the UAE’s continued commitment to international standards of excellence in law enforcement.

15 October 2025, Beirut, Lebanon - The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Lebanon (CIFAL Lebanon), an affiliated training centre of UNITAR, is pleased to present a workshop titled “Strengthening Project Impact through Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)” on 29-31 October 2025.

New York, USA, 7-8 October 2025 - UNITAR joined forces with the Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum 2025, hosted with the support of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services and in collaboration with Together for Safer Roads. The Forum brought together leading stakeholders from public and private fleets, innovative safety technology companies, policy experts, and road safety advocates, as well as federal, state, and city agencies, non-profits, and universities, for the common goal of advancing road safety.

14 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - Ms Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Executive Director of UNITAR and UN Assistant Secretary-General, has built a distinguished career in sustainable development and international cooperation, guided by a deep commitment to people, equality, justice, and peace. In the fourth episode of the Learning with Leaders podcast, listeners are invited to meet UNITAR’s Executive Director and hear her reflections on the journey that has shaped her leadership.

Marking International E‑waste Day 2025, UNITAR and its partners highlight new findings showing that Europe’s discarded electronics contain around one million tonnes of critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper, aluminium, palladium, and rare earth elements each year.

In 2022, Europe generated 10.7 million tonnes of e‑waste, with only 54 per cent managed through compliant systems. By 2050, the amount of valuable materials could rise to 1.9 million tonnes, and with improved design, collection, and recycling, up to 1.5 million tonnes could be recovered annually.

Experts including Dr Kees Baldé (UNITAR -SCYCLE), Jessika Roswall (European Commission), and Pascal Leroy (WEEE Forum) emphasise that e‑waste is not simply waste but a strategic resource that can strengthen Europe’s economy, reduce dependency, and create green jobs if managed within a circular economy.

09 October 2025, Monaco City, Monaco - An important agreement was signed at the Monaco Yacht Show between NAVIGO, the centre for innovation and development in the nautical sector; GIOYA Higher Education Institution, a learning business club for leaders; and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

8 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On 30 September and 1 October 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), through its Global Water Academy, successfully hosted the 42nd UN-Water Meeting at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

7 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), invites women and youth agripreneurs from Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to apply for Phase III of the UNITAR-BADEA Accelerating Sustainable and Climate Resilient Livelihoods Through Development of Small and Medium Agribusiness Enterprises for Women and Youth programme. The programme is open to applicants who participated in Phases I and II. This latest phase focuses on helping entrepreneurs move from planning to practical action – turning their business concepts into climate-smart, market-ready enterprises. Application deadline is 15 October 2025.

6 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The Advisory Board of UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Development convened on 12 September 2025. The session, chaired by UNITAR’s Executive Director, UN Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, underscored the Division’s central role in equipping individuals, institutions, and governments with the skills and capacities needed to meet today’s pressing global challenges.

6 October 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of California, Davis, through the Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE), on 19 August 2025. The agreement was signed in Davis, California, by Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of the UNITAR Division for Prosperity, and Mr. Michael Lazzara, Associate Vice Provost of UC Davis Global Affairs, together with Dean Julie Greenwood of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education.